Government Planning Repairs to Northern Dam

Government Planning Repairs to Northern Dam

Monday, June 07, 2004 at 13:45

 

 

Trappers, outfitters and wild rice growers on Iskwatikan Lake near La Ronge are being invited to attend a couple of public meetings today.

 

The meetings concern the planned repairs to the Rapid River Dam at the northeast corner of Lac La Ronge.

 

Among other things, the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority wants to repair the dam’s structure, install new gates and construct a new fish passage channel.

 

Spokesman Don Dill says anytime work is done on a dam there is the potential to affect water levels on a lake, and that’s why the government would like to hear from traditional land users on this issue.

 

Dill also isn’t sure how much impact the new fish passage will have, but says the plan is probably a lot more ecologically-sensitive than what exists right now.

 

The Rapid River Dam was built in 1967.

 

The improvements are scheduled to start either late this summer or early in the fall.

 

Today’s public meetings are taking place in Stanley Mission and La Ronge.